Press Releases

2018

196 Governments agree to scale up investments in nature and people towards 2020 and beyond: UN Biodiversity Conference closes in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt29 November 2018 – The 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP14) closed tonight with broad international agreement on reversing the global destruction of nature and biodiversity loss threatening all forms of life on Earth.

CIC Markhor Award: Finland Leading the Way in Wetland Conservation21 November 2018 - The two-year wait is over! Amidst the beating sun of Sharm-el-Sheikh comes a project from the cold, dark winter of Northern Europe.

Governments set stage to take ambitious actions for nature and people: UN Biodiversity Conference opens in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt18 November 2018 – The 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference opened yesterday in the seaside town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt with an opening ceremony that included an address from President of Egypt, H.E. Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi, who emphasized the crucial importance of the meeting for Egypt, and for global efforts for sustainable development.

African ministers adopt a Pan-African action agenda on ecosystem restoration: Agree to build momentum to implement commitments for biodiversity15 November 2018 - African Ministers of Environment together with partner organizations committed to an ambitious action agenda taking a coherent approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change.

Governments meet in Egypt to build momentum for a New Deal for Nature and People: 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference held under the theme of “Investing in Biodiversity for People and Planet"8 November 2018 - The global community will lay the groundwork for action over the next few decades to protect biodiversity and nature at the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference , scheduled to take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from 17 to 29 November 2018.

Winners of the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 201811 October 2018 – The winners of the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2018 were announced today. The MIDORI Prize is a prestigious biennial international prize organized by the AEON Environmental Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at global, regional, or local levels.

Countries issue reports on the use of genetic resources in international commerce and research2 AUGUST 2018 - Germany has published the first report on the utilization of genetic resources through the Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) Clearing-House by issuing a checkpoint communiqué concerning research on ants from South Africa. This was rapidly followed by checkpoint communiqués from Malta and Qatar.

Governments embark on transformative agenda to achieve global biodiversity targets and prepare the way forward beyond 202018 July 2018 – Inspired by discussions on the possibilities of transformational change, a keynote address by Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, and a celebration of indigenous culture, more than 1,000 delegates from around the world concluded two critical meetings of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada.

UN Biodiversity Convention and International Treaty commit to enhanced cooperation on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources9 JULY 2018 – A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) that will enhance cooperation between the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the International Treaty) was signed today on the margins of the second meeting of the CBD’s Subsidiary Body on Implementation, being held in Montreal, Canada. The MoC focuses on collaborative activities between the two organizations in the area of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Big data for biodiversity: Global Biodiversity Information Facility surpasses one billion9 July 2018 – A global platform for sharing information about the world’s biodiversity has passed a major milestone, with the publication of the one-billionth species record of where a species lives through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

UN Biodiversity Convention’s science and implementation bodies meet to lay groundwork for post-2020 global biodiversity framework negotiations2 July 2018 – Over the next two weeks, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) bodies on science and implementation will meet to provide further guidance on accelerated efforts to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by the end of the year 2020, and to lay the groundwork for negotiations to achieve an ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Major gap between what consumers want and what companies are doing to respect biodiversity20 June 2018 – New surveys of more than 5,000 consumers in five countries indicate that the majority (79 per cent) feel that “companies have a moral obligation” to have a positive impact on people and biodiversity in their sourcing of natural ingredients, but only 37 per cent feel “confident that companies pay serious attention” to these issues.

UN Biodiversity Convention celebrates 25 years: Significant progress made, but more action needed to safeguard life on Earth23 May 2018 – Opening with a traditional greeting from Charles Patton, a respected elder in the Mohawk Community of Kahnawa:ke, the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was celebrated yesterday in Montreal at an event gathering together senior officials from the Government of Canada, the province of Quebec, the City of Montreal, representatives of the diplomatic corps and dignitaries from around the world.

“The future of all life now depends on us” - Sir David Attenborough joins world experts in calling for action for nature11 APRIL 2018 - On 12 April, Sir David Attenborough joins the head of the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity and a panel from government, business and civil society to discuss how to mobilise global action to tackle what is said to be the greatest threat to humanity: the biodiversity crisis.

Scientific assessments by Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) confirm need for imperative actions to safeguard life on Earth23 March 2018 - Landmark regional scientific reports were issued today in Colombia on the status of biodiversity in the following regions of the world: the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa as well as Europe and Central Asia. They show that pressures on biodiversity and resulting loss of biodiversity continue to increase in all of the regions. If unchecked, such loss will affect the ability of nature to support people and planet.

Nominations open for The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 201819 February 2018 – Nominations are now invited for the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2018. The call for nominations remains open until 15 June 2018.

2017

Governments agree on the contribution of traditional knowledge to global biodiversity policy16 DECEMBER 2017 – Delegates to the tenth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed on a set of recommendations related to the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The recommendations from the meeting will be sent to the Conference of the Parties at the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference being held in Egypt in 2018.

Science body of UN Biodiversity Convention adopts key recommendations that will inform discussions on post-2020 global biodiversity frameworkDelegates to the science body of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) closed their meeting this week, sending a number of recommendations to the next UN Biodiversity Conference that set the stage for achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

UN Biodiversity Convention and Future Earth strengthen collaboration in order to aid countries in achieving global conservation goals12 DECEMBER 2017 – The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Future Earth today agreed to strengthen their collaboration around a number of key areas.

Governments and indigenous peoples meet to discuss contribution of traditional knowledge and their collective actions to global biodiversity policy12 DECEMBER 2017 – Following traditional blessings by Elders of the local Mohawk Community of Kahnawake, delegates to the tenth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity will begin discussions on a number of important topics related to the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

Science body of UN Biodiversity Convention meets to lay foundation for post-2020 global biodiversity targets11 December 2017 – The science body under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meets this week to discuss a wide array of biodiversity-related issues critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and tackling climate change.

States fulfil their commitment: Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress obtains required number of ratifications for entry into force6 December 2017 – The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, following the deposit of the instrument of acceptance by Japan on 5 December 2017, will enter into force on 5 March 2018.

The Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Development Law Organization celebrate launch of 2017-2018 capacity building program15 November 2017 –The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Development Law Organization renewed their collaboration for a joint capacity building program to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.

UN Heads call for assistance to address linked climate change, biodiversity and desertification threats13 November 2017 – The Executive Secretaries of the Biological Diversity, Climate Change, and Desertification Conventions are calling for the establishment of a Facility to secure finance for large projects that will help to address common issues.